SS Robin: The Mother of Invention.

SS Robin is a national treasure, built in 1890 at Thames Ironworks shipyard on the River Lea. She’s the world’s oldest complete steamship and the last of her type in the world. Her incredible story is one of risk, enterprise, determination and endurance.

You can get a glimpse of her at London’s Royal Victoria Dock, opposite the ExCel centre, where she is undergoing final restoration work before she takes her place at the western end of the dock.

We have been in discussion with our main supporter, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and it has been agreed that in order to provide the Robin with a sustainable future and ensure that she is conserved and presented to a high standard we need enhanced financial support. To this end the Trust will be submitting a revised bid to the national HLF board for an uplift in funding to £4 million, including extra match funding from the Trust and its partners. In order to strengthen our application and build further partnerships and capacity which will be required for the future, the board has decided to make some changes to its lineup.

It is our pleasure to announce that Lord Andrew Mawson OBE will be the new chairman of the SS Robin Trust, for this exciting final phase of development. Lord Mawson has been a patron of the Trust for some time and is a serial social entrepreneur with a strong track record for the social impact of his projects in East London. We also welcome Sir David Varney, Dr Paul Brickell, Frank Creber and David Mann. Rosemary Ewles will continue to serve on the board with the new trustees, giving vital experience of HLF and the wider heritage sector. To find out more about the Trustees and Team, click here.

The previous board members will remain connected to the project in advisory and volunteer roles, in order that the Trust does not lose their expertise.The SS Robin Trust would like to thank the previous board members for their continuing efforts and commitment to the SS Robin, without whom the achievements to date would not have been reached. Click here for more information on the previous board and their achievements with the project.